Some enthusiasts long to tackle a first project build, but find the prospect of sinking potentially thousands of dollars into a luxury undertaking daunting and hard to justify. That is where cars like this 1980 Plymouth Volare ride to the rescue. It looks pretty tired and sad, but it also seems to be a rock-solid candidate that is listed at a dirt-cheap price. It has a few minor needs to become roadworthy, but achieving that status is a realistic short-term goal for the new owner.
The 1980 model year marked the end of the line for the Volare, with the car receiving a facelift as a last hurrah. Our feature Volare is from that model year, with the listing suggesting it is a barn find. However, the seller is short on details surrounding its history. The Crimson Red paint is well past its best, with the Plymouth a prime candidate for a cosmetic restoration. The low-quality images make it hard to assess the vehicle’s overall condition, but the suggestions are that there’s no appreciable rust requiring attention. There is also no evidence of significant panel damage, further reinforcing my belief that this could be ideal for a novice. The trim looks respectable for a driver-grade classic, and there are no glaring glass issues.
This Volare is the entry-level variant, meaning the engine bay houses Chrysler’s venerable 225ci slant-six engine. It sends its power to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission, with no power assistance for the steering or brakes. The slant-six produced 90hp and 160 ft/lbs of torque in its prime, but the new owner could unlock more without spending money on a V8 transplant. These motors are notoriously robust, and speed shops offer a range of upgrades that will squeeze additional ponies from them without costing a fortune. The seller indicates that the Volare runs, but requires a new fuel tank and sender unit. The listing suggests those items are all that will be required to return the car to a roadworthy state. The seller claims it has a genuine 44,000 miles on its odometer, although there is no mention of supporting evidence. Therefore, it is a claim that must be taken at face value.
The seller describes the Volare’s interior condition as “nice,” which is a generally fair assessment. The seatcovers should present well following a deep clean because there is no evidence of significant wear or physical damage. The condition of the back seat makes me wonder whether it has ever seen occupants, while the carpet and dash look okay. The weak point is undoubtedly the pad, which has several significant cracks. I performed an admittedly brief online search but failed to locate a replacement. The new owner could patiently monitor the usual online auction sites because one might appear. Otherwise, there are a couple of options. Throwing a cover over it would cost around $50 and would hide the issues. Caps retail for around $170, or the new owner could consider a DIY approach with a product like Polyvance. At the end of the day, they can’t make it much worse than it already is, so it could be a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained.
This 1980 Plymouth Volare is unlikely to ever become a mega-bucks classic, but that isn’t the aim of the exercise. It represents an affordable starting point for those contemplating a first build. It is ideal for someone wishing to develop their skills before tackling something more desirable and valuable. The seller listed the Volare here on Craigslist in Millersburg, Michigan. Their price of $3,000 makes it tempting, but is it low enough for you to pursue it further?
Hard pass. There are a lot better generic 4 doors from this era available for not much more money.
Based on the mismatched paint in rust prone areas, the sellers description is likely charitable.
Steve R
I agree; I don’t want it either. But on today’s roads this car is anything but generic.
These cars are butt ugly in mint condition. It’s a cheap entry into the hobby, but I wouldn’t take this car free of charge.
Gotta disagree with you there. I think it looks awesome, especially compared to today’s generic, bloated SUVs/cross-overs.
If this thing was closer to me, I’d be all over it. Especially with the stick shift, slant six, and “dog dish” hub caps.
I know I’m an odd duck, but I’m not the only one who appreciates cars like these.
I gotta say I won’t take a second look at most blah cars on the road these days, but I would look at this one twice if it drove by. Ugliness and all. Someone buy it and rock on!
I think the value here is for someone who wants to convert a Volare Road Runner to manual transmission. But, I don’t think that’s $3000 in value.
The floor shifted three speed, while a decent piece (actually Chrysler’s heavy duty three speed pickup transmission that was the base offering in pickups, rather than their light duty three speed that was installed on three-on-the-tree cars), is highly likely to be the transmission of choice for someone looking to switch a Volare-era Road Runner to a stick. Those folks are looking for an A833 four speed.
But they’ll still need the pedal assembly and steering column.
Simply too expensive for what it is. Maybe if it was 1500 or so. Throw on a cheap maaco paint job and you would have a decent classic (some dont consider this caliber of malaise era car a classic.)
Maybe if it were only the paint. But I have a feeling there’s some rust on this thing the seller isn’t mentioning. Michigan winters are not mild. That cracked dash (and most likely cracked steering wheel) also make me think this car has deeper issues. I do love that it’s a later model plane Jane, as you just don’t see those anymore. I would never have thought you could still get one in 1980. Very cool!
It’s a little different seeing a floor shifting manual transmission in a four door sedan. That said, one has to just love today’s inflation that causes a $500 beater to have an asking price of $3000, ridiculous.
stack it up against the other M/M of the day. THAT is what U R buying/using.
Here I go for the motor & size (WB).
Drove alot of their wagons (dart – Kcar) and would jump on this save the fox wagon (add 5 yrs & 3.8 bent6 instead) I just bought.
Interesting era (not malaise to me) w/intense changes from 5 motor choices, 3 transmis, 1 model in coupe, sedan, vert, often van & camino/chero. Also a change to tbi efi, sp; frnt wheel drive and more…
You’re right on the price and the paint and I feel the somewhat interesting interior elevates it a little.
If you underside is decent you could have a drivable conversation piece. A three speed slanty with a cool pattern cloth interior might be kind of fun.
What you get when you ask a five year old to draw a car.
Hate to admit it but I owned one these briefly after college. It was inexpensive and very plan…I had to my own “foil” rear window defogger. Beige, slant 6, auto trans, am/fm, power steering/brakes, same vinyl/striped fabric interior…no air.
The only upside was it got decent mileage and looked unmarked police cars at the time in Indiana.
Fortunately it got hit/totalled parked in front of my parents house. I hate to say junk it but…save engine for another project or possible demo derby car.
That shifter looks like the one in my 76 Aspen and it had the 4spd/od tranny. He says “he had it running” so makes me wonder if he bought it to flip. Could it be that it is the 4spd? If it were near me I’d go look but Michigan is a long drive from Georgia so pass. If it were drivable and useable as is I would say that the price is very fair.
This is one of the most uninspired designs to ever come out of the Chrysler studios.
I wouldn’t mind having this, and I am not a Chrysler fan, my friend had on, Aspen but with an automatic…but I don’t see 3k…12 maybe 1500$
Classic? Look up “used car” in the dictionary and there’s a photo of this car…
I owned a 76 Volare wagon for a few years, until the rear end blew up due to some shoddy maintenance work. It had the slant 6 with the 4 speed OD tranny, and I could get 30 MPG in the summer. The rust and the carb were problems. I much preferred the original grille vs. the restyle in 1980.
This talks to me. My first car was a 64 Plymouth wagon with the slant 6 and 3 on the tree. Memories. If it was a wagon, well there’d be trouble at home.LOL
If we’re talking about a starter project, Ford Fairmont would be the ticket. Those are gaining a little popularity lately causing the prices to rise but they offer more bang for the buck being built on the Fox platform (not fox body ;) )
Swap in a 4 speed and slightly shorter rear gears?!? . . . Just a thought, but I think this plain Jane would be FUN. Just put on a reasonable paint job (remember it ISN’T a valuable classic) and enjoy it.
Build quality was terrible, my ex father-in-law had one. Helped him one evening pull the tail lights and put a flexible rope caulking behind them to stop a major water leak there and tightening a few fasteners to tighten some odds and ends up. Car was less than two years old and had paint disappearing and rust begining to grow.
Btw, everyone understands that the price a car is listed for and the price it actually goes for is not necessarily the same. I bet the seller will end up letting go at 2 grand or just south of that :-). Maybe we’ll never know. A stickshift car like this is an interesting piece and would be fun to play around with if it isn’t a rust bucket
I wonder if, by 1980, Chrysler addressed the rust issues with these. Especially the tops of the front fenders and the back of the rears.